Differences in 6.5" MW drivers??

gdb
gdb Posts: 6,012
edited June 2009 in Vintage Speakers
The diff. in SL2000 thread prompted me to ask a similar question....does anyone know what the differences are between all the versions of the MW65XX drivers ? They all "appear" pretty much identical to me, is it number of windings,materials,differing impedances,etc.?? Just how "terrible" would it be,or sound, to substitute one model for another? (Throws Earth off axis ??):confused::)
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,393
    edited May 2009
    A guy in China tried it last year. Look what happened. This information seems to be a well guarded secret as they are Polk Audio proprietary design. However, if anyone would like to share, we would all welcome the info.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited May 2009
    I know it seems to even suggest the very idea of substituting another driver will disrupt the space time continuum. I have substituted a 6511 with a 6503 because the original had a hole it the surround and I could not tell the difference between the two. I finally found a 6511 and will put it in just for the sake of being all original. OK let the bashing begin, I want to know if someone has substituted different drivers all-together (like new from PE or like) tweets and MW's or just MW's, yeah like anyone will confess to that.
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  • Disc Jockey
    Disc Jockey Posts: 1,013
    edited May 2009
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    I have substituted a 6511 with a 6503 because the original had a hole it the surround and I could not tell the difference between the two.

    Off with your head!
    "The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage." Thucydides
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  • nduitch
    nduitch Posts: 316
    edited May 2009
    I was thinking the same thing about these drivers, they seem like they could be better, and I'm sure in the last 25 years someone has made a better driver for the same price.
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited May 2009
    nduitch wrote: »
    I was thinking the same thing about these drivers, they seem like they could be better, and I'm sure in the last 25 years someone has made a better driver for the same price.

    like this

    http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=296-165

    or this?

    http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-874
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  • rallyshark
    rallyshark Posts: 417
    edited May 2009
    Be careful, Polk has your ip addresses!:eek: JUST KIDDING:D I have also wondered about this. I guess the real questions for me would be: What is the frequency range of a MW65XX? I haven't seen many speakers with 6.5" drivers with frequency responses below 20hz(passive radiators or not), but somehow Polk has been doing it for 20+ years. That being said, I don't know what the response for the drivers is out of the cabinet:confused: Then again, maybe I just haven't seen that many speakers.
    The second question:
    Is there a replacement driver that can match the "sound" of the 65XX while also improving on the dynamics? The dynamics part can be answered pretty easily, but it would seem to me the "sound" part wouldn't be so easy. I don't think all of the things that make the right sound can be completely put into specs, and would surely require a hell of a lot of wasted time/money/trial and error, right? Help me out here smart people:D
    Sony 40" LCD
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,748
    edited May 2009
    They are all different and really are not interchangeable due to impedance ratings, driver Q and a whole bunch of other specs.

    There's absolutely nothing wrong with the design. In fact, many feel that doped paper cones still produce the best sound. I agree. The weak spot would be the stamped steel basket, but an application of Dynamat will fix that. If you want better dynamics you need to upgrade your crossovers, not the drivers.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2009
    The Polk MW's are still very good performers today. They dig deep for their size. Excellent tone, and efficiency. The Silver Flutes are a great speakers for custom SDA's, but for a replacement you would not do better than the stock Polk's.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited May 2009
    I agree paper is the warmest sounding material when it come to speakers. I'm just wondering when these finally fail should I use all new Polk or look for something different? Will Polk be around or make replacements anymore?
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited May 2009
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    I agree paper is the warmest sounding material when it come to speakers. I'm just wondering when these finally fail should I use all new Polk or look for something different? Will Polk be around or make replacements anymore?

    I wondered the same thing. Some people said the original speakers SQ is better than the newer ones. Don't know how true its it but since I have a couple pair of SDA's I'm slowly creating a stock pile just in case a driver fails.

    I've been buying speakers off ebay and craigslist and asking the seller just to ship the tweeters, drivers and crossovers and it's alot cheaper that way VS buying replacements.
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited May 2009
    I got a new 6511 and it was different even after break-in, eventually all the original MW will fail, the glue, rubber surrounds, its inevitable. So in the future all vintage Polk owners will have a choice, New ones from Polk (if available) or find some aftermarket ones that fit the bill. But hopefully will not have to worry for another 10 years or so.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2009
    Does PolkAudio manufacture their own drivers or are they "subbed out" to another manufacturer ?? I know that the Peerless were outsourced a long time ago, and I am just wondering about the many other drivers, both recent and vintage, and if they were/are made by Polk or someone else?:confused:
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,748
    edited May 2009
    They are manufactured to Polk's spec's by another firm.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2009
    That is what I suspected, thanks.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,186
    edited June 2009
    I hope I'm in a the right thread for this question.
    My friend had to take out a non working mid-woofer from his newly acquired SDA-SRS's and the stamp said SDA-CRS. Is this normal for the big guys to have the compact mid-woofers in them?
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited June 2009
    tony millard wrote: »
    I hope I'm in a the right thread for this question.
    My friend had to take out a non working mid-woofer from his newly acquired SDA-SRS's and the stamp said SDA-CRS. Is this normal for the big guys to have the compact mid-woofers in them?

    Yes. I ran across the same thing with my SRS 1.2TLs and spoke to Polk Customer Service about it.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,186
    edited June 2009
    thank you hearingimpared, My friend will like that answer.:D
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2009
    tony millard wrote: »
    I hope I'm in a the right thread for this question.
    My friend had to take out a non working mid-woofer from his newly acquired SDA-SRS's and the stamp said SDA-CRS. Is this normal for the big guys to have the compact mid-woofers in them?
    It's the part no. that's important not which speaker model is stamped on the label. The SRS and CRS used the 6503 per the Compendium.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,186
    edited June 2009
    The big guys have little guts or the little guys have big guts. I like to think the latter is correct....
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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